After My System Went Bankrupt, I Found My Happy Ending with the General - Chapter 14

Qin Yu took Luo Chuchen to another pasture, vast and empty, where only a few officials’ family members could be seen strolling along the edge with their maids and servants.

The two rode side by side. Qin Yu, having recognized the family members, opened her mouth and began chattering away, sharing gossip about those officials with Luo Chuchen.

Luo Chuchen held the reins, listening while letting her mind drift aimlessly.

After circling the pasture twice, unsure how much time had passed, Qin Yu grew thirsty from talking and suggested returning to the camp to rest.

Luo Chuchen couldn’t have agreed more, wishing she could raise both hands and feet in approval.

Too lazy to dismount, she simply turned her horse around and headed back the way they came.

Qin Yu asked, “Have you ever tried hunting with a bow and arrow?”

Luo Chuchen shook her head. “Never.”

“Then I can teach you later,” Qin Yu said enthusiastically. “My riding and archery have always been quite good. There’s a target range on the other side here archery isn’t that hard.”

Luo Chuchen fell silent.

She really wanted to refuse.

Luo Chuchen wrestled with her thoughts for half the journey, feeling restless inside. Only when they were nearly at the camp did she finally try to speak up. “To be honest, Your Highness, I have a friend who also came for the winter hunt. I made plans with him earlier.”

Qin Yu froze for a moment, then quickly understood. She slapped her forehead regretfully. “Ah, did I end up interrupting your plans with him?”

Luo Chuchen hurriedly replied, “Not exactly.”

Qin Yu smiled. “Young Marquis, you don’t need to be so formal with me. After chatting for so long, don’t you understand my temperament? I’m not an unreasonable person. In that case, once we return to the camp, we’ll go our separate ways. Another day, I’ll invite you out again.”

Luo Chuchen breathed a sigh of relief and thanked her.

With the matter cleared up, the atmosphere relaxed considerably. Qin Yu said, “By the way, there’s no need to address me so distantly as ‘Your Highness.’ Just call me Qin Yu. If we get closer, you can even give me a nickname, I’m not particular about such things.”

“Well then.” Luo Chuchen prepared to return the courtesy.

But Qin Yu cut in, “May I call you Chuchen?”

“Y-yes, you may.” Luo Chuchen was momentarily taken aback.

Qin Yu burst into laughter at her delayed reaction, wiping the corners of her eyes as if she’d laughed to the point of tears. “Chuchen, you’re really amusing.”

After a moment, Qin Yu asked curiously, “By the way, what’s your friend’s name? I thought you hadn’t been back in the capital for long and didn’t have many acquaintances here, which is why I took the liberty of approaching you.”

Luo Chuchen hesitated, unsure whether to reveal Liang Jue’s name. After a pause, she said, “Actually, you know him too.”

“Oh? But I know quite a few people,” Qin Yu remarked.

Just as Luo Chuchen was about to say Liang Jue’s name, she heard Qin Yu exclaim softly, “Huh?” Following Qin Yu’s gaze, she looked up and saw a man and his horse standing at the camp entrance. His presence was as sharp as a sword, impossible to ignore it was Liang Jue, who had earlier taken part in the group hunt.

He had already removed his helmet, holding it under one arm while stroking Zhaoye bai’s mane with the other. His gaze, like that of a drowsy lion or tiger, slowly fixed on Luo Chuchen and Qin Yu beside her.

Qin Yu shivered slightly and whispered, “Why is General Liang here? Shouldn’t he be attending His Majesty? Is the hunt already over?”

Luo Chuchen didn’t dare answer, feeling inexplicably guilty for some reason.

Qin Yu added, “Why is he staring at me…? His expression is terrifying. I’ve never even spoken to him before.”

While Qin Yu was nervously muttering to himself, Liang Jue had already tugged on the reins and urged his horse forward. In just a few seconds, he halted before the two of them.

Qin Yu jolted in surprise as Liang Jue greeted, “Good afternoon, Your Highness.”

Qin Yu forced a dry laugh and replied, “And to you, General.”

Liang Jue gave a polite nod and asked bluntly, “I wonder if Your Highness has finished your conversation with Xiao Chen?”

Qin Yu blinked, hardly believing his ears. He glanced back at Luo Chuchen, who looked guilty, then at Liang Jue, whose expression was calm and unreadable. In an instant, he realized: the friend Luo Chuchen had mentioned was none other than Liang Jue!

Oh heavens, and he had just gossiped so much about Liang Jue!

Qin Yu was instantly so embarrassed he felt his toes go numb. Knowing when to retreat, he quickly clasped his hands and said, “We’re done, we’re done! Take your time, you two. I have matters to attend to and must be on my way.”

As he pulled on the reins to back away, he turned his head and shot Luo Chuchen a meaningful, almost threatening look, whispering, “I’ll drag you out another day to finish our talk.”

Luo Chuchen could only nod awkwardly in response.

Just as Qin Yu received his reply, Liang Jue cleared his throat, a hint of impatience flickering in his eyes.

Qin Yu shuddered and quickly spurred his horse into a hasty retreat, leaving only Luo Chuchen and Liang Jue to face each other in silence.

After a few quiet seconds, Luo Chuchen cautiously gripped the reins, tracing the patterns on them, and murmured, “Um, h-how did you get here?”

Liang Jue replied in a low voice, “I returned after finishing the hunt. When I asked She Chuan, he said you had gone out with the Crown Prince of Rong and hadn’t returned, so I waited here for you.” His expression gave nothing away.

“Oh, I see,” Luo Chuchen said, feeling even more guilty. He couldn’t help but explain, “The Crown Prince seems to be the overly familiar type he just dragged me out without asking. I didn’t know how to refuse, I really didn’t mean to leave you waiting on purpose.”

Liang Jue hummed in acknowledgment. “I know.”

Seeing that Liang Jue’s imposing aura had softened somewhat, Luo Chuchen relaxed and said, “But if he hadn’t brought me along, I wouldn’t have gotten to see you riding.”

Liang Jue raised an eyebrow. Luo Chuchen then remembered the earlier topic of fine horses and stared longingly at Liang Jue’s Zhaoye Bai, pouting with a mix of envy and frustration. “So you’ve had such a fine horse all along and never told me! And here I was, proudly showing off my little pony to you. I must have seemed like a fool trying to teach a master.”

Liang Jue chuckled and looked at him. “Do you want to ride it?”

Luo Chuchen’s heart leaped with joy, thinking, I knew it! But on the surface, he feigned restraint. “Well, not that much.”

“Mm, it’s me begging you to ride it,” Liang Jue said, stroking Zhaoye Bai’s mane. After a pause, he added teasingly, “I’ve been begging for a long time before the young marquis finally agreed.”

Luo Chuchen wasn’t annoyed. Instead, he bared his teeth at Liang Jue in a mock threat, which made the corners of Liang Jue’s lips curl upward.

“This place isn’t suitable. I’ll take you somewhere else,” Liang Jue said.

Luo Chuchen had seen how fast Zhaoye Bai could gallop, so he was curious as to why the horse was now walking at a pace similar to his own pony’s along the narrow path.

“By the way, the Crown Prince mentioned that this horse is only owned by royalty in the Western Regions. How did you get it?”

“During the war,” Liang Jue replied, “I led our troops to victory and seized it.”

Luo Chuchen widened his eyes. “Just this one horse?”

Liang Jue nodded and said, “The marshal bestowed this horse upon me.”

“Wow, that must be amazing!” Luo Chuchen praised with genuine admiration.

“…” Liang Jue glanced at him and asked, “What’s so amazing about it?”

Luo Chuchen replied, “It’s just really impressive. You led them to victory in battle, and the marshal rewarded you, which means you were the greatest contributor.”

“It’s nothing much.” Liang Jue seemed a bit shy from the praise, averting his gaze, his movements on the horse becoming somewhat stiff.

Luo Chuchen added, “Moreover, you were the one giving orders during this hunt, and you returned so quickly by the way, what did you hunt?”

“Rabbits? Eagles? Tigers?” he guessed randomly.

Liang Jue chuckled, “How could there be tigers? This hunting ground mostly has deer, rabbits, and the like.”

At this, Liang Jue turned his face and said, “But this time, I hunted a fine red fox. I specifically aimed for its eye, so the fur is flawless. When we return to the estate, I’ll have them make a light fur coat for you. It will be very warm.”

Luo Chuchen hadn’t expected Liang Jue to prepare something for him. Surprised, he met Liang Jue’s gaze, stunned for a moment, feeling his ears grow warm. He obediently murmured an “Oh” and said, “Alright.”